Age at which chicks can safely go outside............

[drdoolittle]

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I'll ask again. What is a good age to move chicks outdoors? I just got 4 SG chicks (I believe the youngest is 8-9 weeks old) and have a pen outside ready, but am wondering if they will be o.k. going out now, as they have no neck feathers? It is supposed to get down to 38 tonight.

Realised I should have posted in Raising Baby Chicks. Went there and found my answer-----thanks!

 

[midget_farms]

They can go outside safely the moment they have feathers - usually 5 weeks but it depends on the breed.

Your's will be just fine outside.

if you feel bad for them toss in a brooder light just in case they want to stand under it - but I bet they don't.

Feathers are great!

 

[elmo]

What range of temperatures are they used to right now? I wouldn't take chicks used to steady brooder temps indoors and make them experience 38 degrees within 24 hours. They might be fine, but they might not. It's better to acclimate birds slowly to temperature changes.

 

[drdoolittle]

They're fine----they hadn't had a heat source for a couple of weeks.